Yasushi Akashi, former UN undersecretary-general makes a speech during the welcome reception before the 9th Beijing-Tokyo Forum in Beijing, Oct 25, 2013. [Photo by Zou Hong / chinadaily.com.cn]
An unusually heavy downpour hit Durban for two days before the BRICS summit's debut on African soil, but interest for a better platform for emerging markets were still sparked at the summit.